Breast cancer statistics

Last medical review:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). It is the 2nd leading cause of death from cancer in Canadian women. Breast cancer can also occur in men, but it is not common.

To provide the most current cancer statistics, statistical methods are used to estimate the number of new cancer cases and deaths until actual data become available.

Incidence and mortality

Incidence is the number of new cases of cancer. Mortality is the number of deaths due to cancer.

Cancer statistics are currently collected, analyzed and reported based on the sex assigned at birth, with male/men and female/women categories. We need to address gaps in how statistics are collected to better understand cancer in transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse people.

It is estimated that in 2024:

  • 30,500 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This represents 25% of all new cancer cases in women in 2024.
  • 5,500 Canadian women will die from breast cancer. This represents 13% of all cancer deaths in women in 2024.
  • On average, 84 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every day.
  • On average, 15 Canadian women will die from breast cancer every day.
  • 290 Canadian men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 60 will die from breast cancer.

Estimated Canadian breast cancer statistics (2024)

Category

Women Men

New cases

30,500

290

Deaths

5,500

60

5-year net survival (estimates for 2015 to 2017)

89%

76%
Diagram of the percentage of estimated new breast cancer cases in women in 2024
Diagram of the percentage of estimated breast cancer deaths in women in 2024
Diagram of the percentage of estimated breast cancer deaths in women in 2024

Chances (probability) of developing or dying from breast cancer

It is estimated that about 1 in 8 Canadian women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime and 1 in 36 will die from it.

For more information about cancer statistics, go to Canadian Cancer Statistics.

Expert review and references

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Medical disclaimer

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